Leprosy diagnostic criteria
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
Diagnostic Criteria
Attending to the historic and social impact of leprosy in the population, a careful assessment of the clinical status of the patient should be made, before advancing the definitive diagnosis of leprosy. Even when suspected in the differential diagnosis, a reasonable degree of certainty is required, before communicating this to the patient.
For the diagnosis of leprosy, at least one of the following signs should be present:
- Confirmed loss of sensation of a hypopigmented or erythematous skin patch.
- A thickened peripheral nerve, with concomitant loss of sensation and/or weakness of the muscles it stimulates.
- Confirmation of acid-fast bacilli in the skin smear, although most people with leprosy will have a negative smear.